{"product_id":"map-of-wilmington-north-carolina-by-usgs-1980-cape-fear-river-wrightsville-beach","title":"Map of Wilmington, North Carolina by USGS, 1980 – Cape Fear River \u0026 Wrightsville Beach","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished in 1985 using survey data from 1980, the USGS map titled “Wilmington” presents one of North Carolina’s most storied coastal cities with the precision and immediacy of color orthophotography. Unlike a conventional line-drawn topographic sheet, this orthophoto map incorporates aerial photographic imagery, allowing streets, waterways, developed neighborhoods, wooded tracts, and industrial corridors to appear with striking geographic clarity. At a detailed 1:24,000 scale, it records Wilmington at a moment of late twentieth-century transformation, when the historic port city was expanding outward while still visibly shaped by the Cape Fear River and its maritime setting. The result is both a practical scientific document and a richly layered portrait of a city balancing commerce, ecology, and coastal life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe map was produced and published by the U.S. Geological Survey, the federal agency whose name has become synonymous with authoritative American mapping. Established in 1879, the USGS brought scientific rigor to the surveying of the nation’s terrain, waterways, mineral resources, and settlement patterns. By the late twentieth century, its cartographic work increasingly embraced aerial photography and advanced geospatial methods, and this Wilmington sheet reflects that evolution. The orthophoto format preserves the accuracy expected of a topographic map while offering the visual density of a landscape seen from above. Roads, rail lines, drainage patterns, urban blocks, and open land are not merely symbolized; they are embedded in a photographic view that makes the region’s spatial relationships especially vivid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWilmington itself occupies a commanding position in the geography of southeastern North Carolina. Set along the Cape Fear River, near its approach to the Atlantic, the city has long served as a port, trading center, and gateway between inland North Carolina and the sea. This map captures that relationship through the broad sweep of the Cape Fear River and the neighboring Brunswick River, both central to the area’s commerce, ecology, and historical identity. The riverfront cityscape, transportation routes, and nearby waterways evoke Wilmington’s maritime heritage, from shipping and naval stores to later industrial and military importance. The presence of creeks, marshy margins, and shorelines also reveals how deeply the built environment depends on the low coastal terrain around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond the city center, the map opens into a mosaic of neighborhoods, beaches, parks, and coastal communities. Wrightsville Beach and North Wrightsville Beach point toward the barrier-island world east of Wilmington, while places such as Myrtle Grove, Masonboro, Landfall, Autumn Hall, Hurst Beach, and Back Creek speak to the area’s suburban and coastal development. Wilmington International Airport anchors the region’s modern transportation network, while roads and highways bind the city to surrounding residential districts and beach communities. Green spaces such as Halyburton Park and Ogden Park add another layer, showing recreational and ecological landscapes within the expanding metropolitan fabric. Together, these details reveal a region shaped by water access, coastal desirability, and steady urban growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a historical document, this 1980-surveyed view of Wilmington is especially valuable for understanding land use and development in the decades before the city’s more recent expansion. The orthophoto imagery captures patterns of residential subdivision, transportation infrastructure, industrial land, wooded areas, river corridors, and shoreline change with unusual immediacy. Contour information, shading, water features, and photographic detail combine to describe the subtle topography of the coastal plain, where modest elevation changes can influence drainage, settlement, and environmental vulnerability. For collectors, historians, and admirers of coastal cartography, the map offers far more than location: it preserves a precise moment in Wilmington’s evolution, when a historic port city, its rivers, beaches, and neighborhoods were being redefined by modern growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWilmington\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCape Fear River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrunswick River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWrightsville Beach\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNorth Wrightsville Beach\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMyrtle Grove\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAutumn Hall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBack Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLandfall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMasonboro\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHurst Beach\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWilmington International Airport\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHalyburton Park\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOgden Park\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVarious neighborhoods and residential areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoads and highways connecting to Wilmington and surrounding areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoastal features and shorelines\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreeks and smaller water bodies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRailways and potential military sites, if marked on the map\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced and published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe USGS, established in 1879, is a U.S. government scientific agency known for mapping, surveying, and providing geological, hydrological, and topographical data.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map uses survey data from 1980 and was published in 1985.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrthophoto map incorporating aerial photography for accurate topographical representation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShows Wilmington, North Carolina, and surrounding rivers, parks, neighborhoods, and coastal features.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWilmington is historically significant as a port city with a rich maritime history and cultural landmarks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses color orthophotography to provide a detailed view of land use and geography.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDrawn at a 1:24,000 scale, offering detailed topographic information including elevation changes, water features, and land use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eServes as a record of geographic and urban development in the Wilmington area as of 1980.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReflects changes in land use, environmental features, and infrastructure over time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/de\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/de\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/de\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/de\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792113963392,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792113996160,"sku":null,"price":202.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792114028928,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792114061696,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792114094464,"sku":null,"price":202.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792114127232,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792114160000,"sku":null,"price":122.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792114192768,"sku":null,"price":269.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792114225536,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792114258304,"sku":null,"price":141.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792114291072,"sku":null,"price":308.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792114323840,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x28in (50x70cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792114356608,"sku":null,"price":160.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x28in (50x70cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792114389376,"sku":null,"price":462.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x28in (50x70cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792114422144,"sku":null,"price":519.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A2 (420x594mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792114454912,"sku":null,"price":141.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A2 (420x594mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792114487680,"sku":null,"price":308.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A2 (420x594mm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792114520448,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x30in (60x75cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792114553216,"sku":null,"price":170.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x30in (60x75cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792114585984,"sku":null,"price":462.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x30in (60x75cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792114618752,"sku":null,"price":519.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A1 (594x841mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792114651520,"sku":null,"price":170.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A1 (594x841mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792114684288,"sku":null,"price":462.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A1 (594x841mm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792114717056,"sku":null,"price":519.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x40in (70x100cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792114749824,"sku":null,"price":221.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x40in (70x100cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792114782592,"sku":null,"price":635.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x40in (70x100cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792114815360,"sku":null,"price":635.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"32x40in (80x100cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792114848128,"sku":null,"price":221.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"32x40in (80x100cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792114880896,"sku":null,"price":635.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"32x40in (80x100cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792114913664,"sku":null,"price":635.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A0 (841x1189mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792114946432,"sku":null,"price":318.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A0 (841x1189mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792114979200,"sku":null,"price":1470.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A0 (841x1189mm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792115011968,"sku":null,"price":1384.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"40x50in (100x127cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792115044736,"sku":null,"price":481.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"40x50in (100x127cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792115077504,"sku":null,"price":1787.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"40x50in (100x127cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792115110272,"sku":null,"price":1682.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"48x60in (120x150cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792115143040,"sku":null,"price":587.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"48x60in (120x150cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792115175808,"sku":null,"price":2691.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"48x60in (120x150cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792115208576,"sku":null,"price":2498.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"56x70in (142x178cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792115241344,"sku":null,"price":1086.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"56x70in (142x178cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792115274112,"sku":null,"price":3795.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"56x70in (142x178cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792115306880,"sku":null,"price":3603.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/0344\/8638\/files\/file_0e8e01dd-35bf-4f2d-867e-2e32ba10c9d8.jpg?v=1787841497","url":"https:\/\/uniquemaps.ca\/de\/products\/map-of-wilmington-north-carolina-by-usgs-1980-cape-fear-river-wrightsville-beach","provider":"The Unique Maps Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}